BOOTS TO BUSINESS (B2B): FROM SERVICE TO START-UP …...Jan 13, 2017 · The Boots to Business (B2B) Program is a component of the benefits and services authorized for separating

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD)

BOOTS TO BUSINESS (B2B): FROM SERVICE TO START-UP TRAINING

PROGRAM

FY 2017

Program Announcement No.

BOOTS TO BUSINESS-2017-01

The purpose of Program Announcement (PA) No. BOOTS TO BUSINESS-2017-01 is to

invite proposals for funding from eligible non-profit organizations, state, local, and tribal

government agencies, and institutions of higher learning to provide entrepreneurship

training, curriculum updates, and program management support services for global

delivery of the B2B two-day “Introduction to Entrepreneurship” classroom course (Intro)

and the Foundations of Entrepreneurship online course (or comparable alternatives),

which will require at a minimum: (1) providing a network of instructors to teach online

courses globally; (2) providing a network of instructors to travel to and teach Intro at

overseas military installations; (3) managing SBA-owned course curricula which requires

continuous improvement and compatibility with Department of Defense (DOD) Transition

Assistance Program (TAP) governance’s curricula management process; and (4) B2B

program evaluation plan and methodologies in support of OVBD’s strategic objectives.

Eligible organizations may submit no more than one (1) proposal that responds to one or

more operational areas outlined in this PA. In other words, an applicant may apply for

multiple areas of the PA (including all areas), or may select specific operational

objectives. Please note that all applications must address Operational Objective 3

(Integration, Collaboration, and Partnership)in order to be deemed complete and

responsive. A successful technical proposal will include communication and collaboration

with SBA and its partners as central to its project approach in order to achieve the stated

project objectives.

This program announcement depends on the availability of funding.

U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Veterans Business Development

Boots to Business (B2B): From Service to Start-Up Training Program Announcement No. B2B-2017-01

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U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

OFFICE OF VETERANS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Opening Date: January 13, 2017

Closing Date: February 17, 2017

Proposals responding to this Program Announcement (PA) must be posted to

www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, February 17, 2017. No other

submission will be permitted. Proposals received after the stipulated deadline will be

rejected without being evaluated.

http://www.grants.gov/



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Table of Contents Table of Contents .................................................................................................................. 3

1.0 Section I – Funding Opportunity Description ............................................................ 4

2.0 Section II – Award Information ............................................................................... 15

3.0 Section III – Eligibility Information ........................................................................ 16

4.0 Section IV – Application and Submission of Information....................................... 17

5.0 Section V – Application Review Information ......................................................... 27

6.0 Section VI – Award Administration Information .................................................... 32

7.0 Section VII – Agency Contacts................................................................................ 33

8.0 Section VIII – Other Information ............................................................................ 34



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1.0 Section I – Funding Opportunity Description

1.1 Program Overview

1.1.1 Federal Agency Name: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

1.1.2 Funding Opportunity Title Boots to Business (B2B) Training Program

1.1.3 Announcement Type Initial

1.1.4 Funding Opportunity Number: Program Announcement No.B2B-2017-01

1.1.5 CDF Number: 59.044

1.1.6 Closing Date for Submission: January XX, 2017 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time

1.1.7 Authority: Section 9(b)(17) of the Small Business Act,

15 U.S.C. § 637(b)(17)

1.1.8 Duration of Funding: 5 Years

1.1.9 Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement

1.1.10 Funding: Funding is for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017

1.1.11 Award Amount/Funding Range: A maximum of $2.5 million in funding is available

annually for up to five years. There is no minimum award

amount. SBA anticipates awarding between one (1) and four

(4) cooperative agreements from this announcement, subject

to the availability of funds, the quality of proposals received,

and other applicable considerations.

1.1.12 Project Duration: Awards will be made for a base project period of 12 months,

with four option periods of 12 months each. Exercise of

options is at SBA’s discretion and is subject to continuing

program authority, quality of proposals received, availability

of funds, and satisfactory performance by the Recipient

organization.

1.1.13 Project Starting Date: Within 30 calendar days of the date of award.

1.1.14 Project Evaluation: Proposals will be reviewed for sufficiency as

detailed in Section 5.0

1.1.15 Agency Programmatic Point of John Lira, U.S. Small Business Administration

Contact: Office of Veterans Business Development

Email: [email protected]



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1.2 Introduction

Multiple statutes authorize or direct the SBA’s provision of services and programs to

service members and veterans. SBA’s participation in transition assistance has expanded

in recent years as the Administration and the U.S. Congress have focused on providing for

this generation of veterans.

SBA is authorized by 15 U.S.C. § 637 (b)(17) (“The Small Business Act”) to make grants

to, and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with, educational institutions,

private businesses, veterans’ nonprofit community-based organizations, and Federal,

State, and local departments and agencies for the establishment and implementation of

outreach programs for disabled veterans, veterans, and members of a reserve component

of the Armed Forces. The Small Business Act also specifically requires the Associate

Administrator for OVBD to “increase veteran outreach by ensuring that Veteran Business

Outreach Centers (VBOCs) regularly participate, on a nationwide basis, in the workshops

of the Transition Assistance Program…” (15 U.S.C. § 657 (d)(1)).

The Boots to Business (B2B) Program is a component of the benefits and services

authorized for separating military Service members by 10 U.S.C. §§ 1141-1154. The

Secretary of Defense is required by 10 U.S.C. § 1142(b)(13) to provide “information

concerning veterans small business ownership and entrepreneurship programs of the Small

Business Administration.” The Secretary of Labor, in conjunction with the Secretary of

Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is also

required by 10 U.S.C. §1144(b)(5) to establish and maintain a program to “provide

information and other assistance to such members in their efforts to obtain loans and

grants from the Small Business Administration and other Federal, State, and local

agencies.” To fulfill these requirements, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of

Labor maintain an agreement with SBA. A memorandum of understanding (MOU)

between the DOD, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), U.S. Department of Labor

(DOL), U.S. Department of Education (DoED), Department of Homeland Security (DHS),

SBA, and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) outlines how SBA provides services to

separating Service members through the redesigned transition assistance program (TAP).

The Veterans Entrepreneurship Act of 2015 expanded B2B benefits eligibility beyond

transitioning service members and military spouses to all era veterans, dependents, and

permanent caregivers.

1.3 Background

Since its inception in 1953, SBA has served to aid, counsel, assist and promote the

interests of small businesses; while SBA is best known for its financial support of small

businesses through its many lending programs, the Agency also plays a critical role in

providing funding to organizations that deliver technical assistance in the form of

counseling and training to small business concerns and nascent entrepreneurs in order to

promote growth, expansion, innovation, increased productivity, and management

improvements. The mission of SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development is to

empower Veteran entrepreneurship by formulating, implementing, administering, and



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promoting policies and programs to equip veteran, service member (active duty, National

Guard, Reserve), and military spouse owned small businesses with counseling, training

and education, access to capital, and contracting opportunities. OVBD’s B2B program

supports service members transitioning to civilian life that are exploring self-employment

(i.e. business ownership) opportunities by providing them education and training on the

key steps of evaluating business concepts and business plan development. Over time,

SBA estimates that with continued B2B program support and access to other SBA

resources, the number of veteran owned small businesses should rise substantially.

Please note throughout this PA, the term “veteran” will be used to refer to all parties

eligible for B2B benefits, which includes transitioning service members, military spouses,

veterans of all eras, dependents, and permanent caregivers.

1.4 Purpose

The B2B Program is a combination of a two-day Introduction to Entrepreneurship course

taught in classrooms on military installations and an eight-week online Foundations of

Entrepreneurship course taught by a consortium of entrepreneurship professors and

practitioners. The Introduction to Entrepreneurship course1 is Step One (1) of the B2B

Program, and consists of an on-base, two-day introductory course designed to introduce

and orient participants to the vocation of business ownership. It is designed to assist

transitioning service members and spouses to answer the question, “Is business ownership

the right pathway for me, or my family?”

Step Two (2) of the Program – known as the “Foundations of Entrepreneurship”-- is best

described as an applied skills training model designed to prepare individuals (with an

existing entrepreneurial intention) to successfully act on that intention and launch or grow

a business venture. Historically, Step 2 has been delivered using a high touch, instructor-

led online model organized by cohort.

SBA is soliciting applications from eligible institutions (as defined in Section 3.2) to

conduct global delivery of the TAP B2B Entrepreneurship Training Track that seeks to

increase the number of veteran-owned small businesses.

The following provides information on the type of assistance sought through this PA:

a. Follow-on entrepreneurship education and training or comparable

alternative(s)

(For more information, visit https://www.sba.gov/b2b)

SBA is interested in sustaining the effectiveness of its existing follow-on entrepreneurship

education and training model while allowing for continuous improvement and innovation.

B2B training opens the door to veterans who want to explore business ownership and a

multitude of existing or yet-to-be-developed follow-on entrepreneurial development

1 Introduction to Entrepreneurship course objectives can be found in the Appendix

https://www.sba.g/



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resources to support their journey. This may mean different things to different people:

Some aspiring veteran entrepreneurs may seek mentorship assistance from a retired

business executive or experienced veteran business owner; some may decide to secure a

loan for expanding an existing business; and others may simply seek business accounting

training from a local SBA Resource Partner, just to name a few. The path to

entrepreneurship is not the same for everyone, and entrepreneurship development

encompasses many different paths.

SBA strives to define and capture entrepreneurial development activities and their impact

on aspiring and existing business owners and their collective impact on the U.S. economy.

Of equal importance, SBA seeks to assist service members and spouses in making a

successful transition to civilian life, which may mean learning through B2B that business

ownership is not a suitable or desirable post service vocation. SBA is committed to

supporting veterans throughout their career and places special emphasis on veterans

exploring their entrepreneurial intention and interest in business ownership. Survey

results indicate the B2B Foundations of Entrepreneurship (Foundations) course (Step 2)

has been instrumental in fostering entrepreneurial confidence in veterans2, however, SBA

wants to explore other methods of fostering entrepreneurial efficacy and seeks applicants

with ideas or projects aimed at defining customer business needs beyond the B2B Intro

course (Step 1). This project may or may not include online training such as the B2B

Foundations course (Step 2).

The follow-on training course uses an online learning system which provides access to

view assignments, course discussion forums, and obtain general information.

Additionally, the online learning system includes a web-based registration system that

enables prospective participants to register for the course. The SBA Grants Officer

Technical Representative (GOTR) provides approval of website content. Course material

distribution, inventory storage, and delivery will be handled by another organization under

direct contract with SBA. As such, this aspect of the program is not included in the scope

of work for awards issued under this PA. Current participant course materials include:

“The “Boots on the Ground” Guide to Entrepreneurship” textbook (published by

McGraw Hill)

“The Nuts & Bolts of Great Business Plans for Veterans and Military Service

Members”

The volume of service that applicants can expect to provide may be derived from past

performance information. In FY 2015, 1,173 service members and spouses registered for

the Foundations of Entrepreneurship class. In FY 2016, 1,249 service members and

spouses registered for the Foundations of Entrepreneurship class. During FY 2016, a total

of 23 courses were facilitated with an average class size of 54 students.

2 https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/b2b_vet_entrepreneurship_assessment.pdf



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b. Curricula Continuous Improvement (of two-day B2B Intro course) and

Innovation (for online B2B Follow-on course)


The B2B curriculum and corresponding learning objectives are focused on entry-level

entrepreneurial skills. However, SBA is interested in flexibility with the curricula to allow

for customization to address the needs of the overall B2B program. For example, SBA

anticipates there could be variations of the B2B curricula to address all era veteran interest

in specific types of business opportunities or industries. All contiguous United States

(CONUS) B2B classes will be delivered by SBA personnel and resource partners. These

individuals are generally business professionals or trained business counselors with

experience delivering entrepreneurship education to small and medium-sized groups.

Curriculum shall be reviewed annually in accordance with established TAP procedures.

Updates must be reviewed by the SBA GOTR who is responsible for ensuring curriculum

revisions are consistent with the overall annual TAP evaluation cycle deadlines.

As a component of the interagency TAP, the B2B curriculum is reviewed and revised

consistent with TAP policies and procedures that encourage continuous quality assessment

and improvement. The outcomes of TAP and its associated curricula are evaluated within

and across participating federal agencies, by the U.S. Congress, and other oversight

agencies such as the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO). As part of program

governance, non-government stakeholder feedback is sought and used in a variety of

ways.

SBA and its partners constantly seek data and knowledge on the needs of its beneficiaries

– in this case, emerging and existing veteran-owned small businesses. SBA seeks thought

and program partners to enable collaborative curricula innovation that helps SBA achieve

its mission of empowering veteran entrepreneurship and maintain relevance in today’s

marketplace.

c. Integration, Operations, and Partnership

SBA works with many partners across sectors in the entrepreneurial development space,

which is the primary program purpose of B2B. Maintaining and creating frameworks and

infrastructure that integrate and leverage partner efforts is a strategic objective. SBA

OVBD believes achieving this objective in the Veterans space is paramount.

B2B training introduces transitioning service members (TSMs) to business ownership and

the continuum of available follow-on entrepreneurial development resources. TSM

resource needs are varied. Some aspiring veteran entrepreneurs may need mentorship

assistance from an experienced veteran business owner, while others may need to secure a

loan to expand an existing business; and, others may simply seek accounting training from

a local SBA Resource Partner.



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d. B2B two-day “Introduction to Entrepreneurship” instruction overseas


The B2B Intro course is delivered to military service members at installations throughout

the world, both inside the CONUS and outside the contiguous United States (OCONUS).

Nearly all CONUS B2B classes are delivered by SBA personnel and its resource partners.

For OCONUS, in the 18 month period from April 2015 to September 2016, 162 courses

have been held at 37 different military installations in eight countries. OCONUS Intro

training locations and frequency of classes to be conducted is dependent on the

requirements of DOD and DHS (for U.S. Coast Guard). In addition to permanent major

military installations, course locations may vary from country to country or time to time.

The grantee is responsible for ensuring the flexibility to support location requirements.

Course locations and dates will be approved by the SBA GOTR on a quarterly basis 30

days prior to the beginning of each quarter in an effort to maximize efficiencies related to

geographic distribution and financial resources. The grantee is responsible for managing

all OCONUS installation Point of Contact (POC) relationships; however, SBA OVBD

manages the relationship with the Transition Service Managers at the broader Service

level.

The following table shows the classroom participation levels in the global B2B program:

This information is based on historical data and is provided for informational purposes

only. This workload data does not project actual requirements for the cooperative

agreement, nor does it fully reflect grantee workload. The Applicant is responsible for

proposing an appropriate budget to accomplish the objectives of this PA.

The Grantee must strive to use the highest quality and most cost effective method to

ensure all instructors have been trained on B2B or SBA-designated curriculum prior to

course delivery. Coordination of CONUS instructors is the responsibility of SBA district

Year Classes Participants Installations

2013 296 4514 114

2014 567 9835 157

2015 797 12277 171

2016 804 12765 186

Scope of All B2B Operations

Year Classes Participants Installations

2013 / / /

2014 33 606 24

2015 116 1816 30

2016 108 1686 34

Scope of Overseas Operations



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office personnel while the coordination of OCONUS instruction is facilitated

collaboratively by the Grantee. Existing CONUS and OCONUS instructors use a training

resources portal hosted by the current Cooperative Agreement National Partner to access

instructional materials (lesson plans, briefing slide decks, videos, forms, etc.) and course

delivery tips from best-in-class instructors. SBA is developing its own instructor

resources portal using a customer relationship management (CRM) system (e.g.

Salesforce) which will facilitate the transfer of website or portal hosting to SBA. The

Grantee must review existing curricula and propose changes or propose an alternative

established curriculum in writing. Recommended changes or proposals will be reviewed

by the SBA GOTR who is responsible for ensuring curriculum revisions are consistent

with the overall TAP evaluation cycle.

e. B2B Program Evaluation


SBA evaluates the B2B Program at the agency level as part of the inter-agency TAP. The

existing evaluation methodology is survey-based and collects self-reported data on

business formation and sustainment rates as primary outcome measures. Participation

numbers and rates are also measured as outputs. In many cases, data systems and data

sharing across partners and government agencies is limited.

The federal government is striving to frame the appropriate mix of outputs and outcomes

that represent a veteran’s entrepreneurial journey. However, the ultimate goal for the

inter-agency DOD TAP is the successful transition of the service member and family to

civilian life. Persistent interagency government efforts exist to increase and improve data

collection, analytical methodologies, and data sharing arrangements to help evaluate the

impact of the TAP.

For organizations responding to the Program Evaluation operational objective of this PA,

technical proposals must address how an organization proposes to assess the impact of an

entrepreneurship education and assistance program with a particular focus on the needs of

transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses. SBA is interested in

organizations’ perspectives and approaches to identifying the most meaningful yet

obtainable measures of effectiveness and efficiencies for a national entrepreneurship

education and training program, as well as the systems and methodologies that would or

could be utilized for the evaluation efforts. SBA strives to define and capture

entrepreneurial development activities and their impact on aspiring and existing business

owners, veterans’ actions related to their livelihood, whether veterans decide to launch a

business and their company’s trajectory or lifespan, the incubation period in making these

decisions, and the associated impacts of all this activity on the overall U.S. economy.

SBA is looking for thought leadership on what are the best measures or indicators of a

veteran’s successful transition from military to civilian life.

https://www.sba/



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1.5 B2B Program Operational Objectives

1. B2B Follow-On Instruction or comparable alternative(s) - To increase the

number of course participants and graduates, ultimately leading to an increased

number of veteran entrepreneurs.

2. B2B Curricula Continuous Improvement and Innovation - To increase the

number of veteran entrepreneurs by designing, maintaining, and supporting

execution of curricula best practices consistent with SBA guidance.

3. Integration, Operations and Partnership - To increase the number of veteran

entrepreneurs by fostering and supporting a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.

4. B2B two-day Intro (overseas installations) - To increase the number of course

participants and graduates, ultimately leading to an increased number of veteran

entrepreneurs.

5. B2B Program Evaluation - To provide methodologies, theories of change,

research questions, etc. to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of TAP B2B

operations on client outcomes.

Table 1-1 demonstrates the relationship between project activities, entrepreneurial

development outputs, and intermediate action outcomes that may ultimately increase the

number of veterans or B2B graduates starting a business, etc.

Table 1-1

Activities

Programmatic/

Entrepreneurial

Development Related

Outputs

Anticipated Economic Outcomes

Short-term and

Intermediate Action Outcomes

Long-term (End)

Economic Outcomes

Descriptions of

services your

project will

provide (e.g.,

conduct training,

refine curriculum,

etc.).

These outputs describe the

level of activity that will

be provided over a period

of time, including a

description of the

characteristics (e.g.,

quantity, timeliness)

established as standards

for the activity (e.g.,

number of people trained).

Short-term action outcomes might

describe knowledge gained (e.g.

increased number of B2B participants),

intermediate outcomes may include

behavior changes achieved (e.g.,

increased likelihood of starting a

venture, increased motivation related to

starting a venture, increased confidence

related to starting a venture).

Intermediate action outcomes describe

the intended result of carrying out a

program or activity.

Long-term economic

outcomes are the

ultimate benefit of the

project.

Economic outcomes

cannot always be

quantified by funding

recipients, but are

desirable when possible

(e.g., increased number

of business starts,

increased number of

veteran entrepreneurs,

decrease in veteran

unemployment).

The activities and entrepreneurial development outputs listed in this table are examples

only and are not intended to limit the submission of creative and innovative approaches

for achieving economic results. Linkage to at least one of the long-term economic

outcomes referenced in this PA must be addressed by proposed project activities.

Additional economic outcomes are acceptable.



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1.6 Leveraging of Resources

The applicant(s) selected for award under this PA are required to maximize efforts to

leverage SBA funding by working in conjunction with SBA district offices and other

federal, state, local, and tribal government small business development programs and

activities, as well as SBA resource partners, such as SCORE, Small Business

Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers

(VBOCs), 7(j) Technical Assistance providers, Small Business Investment Companies,

Certified Development Companies, SBA lenders; and/or universities, colleges, other

institutions of higher learning, private organizations, such as chambers of commerce and

trade and industry groups and associations in marketing and promoting the program to

eligible beneficiaries interested in launching new business ventures or expanding or

diversifying established businesses. Applicants must provide a detailed description of

how they plan to work directly with SBA district offices and resource partners in

disseminating information to military installations responsible for providing the TAP to

service members interested in participating in the optional Entrepreneurship Track.

1.7 SBA Involvement and Oversight

A designated GOTR within OVBD at SBA Headquarters will be responsible for overall

monitoring and oversight of an award recipient, including compliance with the terms of

the Cooperative Agreement. A designated Grants Officer within the Office of Grants

Management (OGM) will be responsible for issuing the Notice of Award, making

modifications to the award, and processing payments.

The purpose of a cooperative agreement is to transfer funds to a recipient to accomplish a

public purpose; however, substantial involvement is anticipated between the government

and the recipient during the performance of the activity to meet agreed upon project

objectives. Identified below are anticipated roles and responsibilities of the OVBD

Program Office in cooperation with awardees. These roles and responsibilities are

categorized in accordance with the previously stated requirements to be delivered by

awardees and are consistent with current OVBD program management practices. This

information is intended to serve as guidelines to assist applicants prepare their technical

proposals. Roles and responsibilities may be adjusted to facilitate an awardee’s

performance depending on their project objectives and milestones and the negotiated

terms and conditions of the award.

a. Curricula Continuous Improvement and Innovation (for either the two-day

Intro course or any follow-on training courses):

The SBA GOTR expects to:

Facilitate collaboration between B2B awardee(s) and other partners engaged in

delivering the program such as Veterans Business Outreach Centers, SCORE,

SBA field personnel, Small Business Development Centers, and Women's



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Business Centers so the awardee can collect feedback from instructors and the

participants.

Provide data collected via DoD-administered TAP assessment surveys which

include questions on quality and customer satisfaction for all of TAP including

the Entrepreneurship Track (i.e. SBA’s B2B Program). The surveys also

include knowledge questions to test participants on their learnings against the

stated course learning objectives. (This pertains to the two-day Intro course

only.)

Provide other program data collected on course participants that includes

demographic data such as gender, rank, and service component, which may be

useful for curriculum reviews.

Facilitate and lead as required the approval process for any curriculum

modifications in accordance with TAP policies as maintained by the

interagency TAP governance structure. This includes reviewing changes with

the TAP Curriculum Work Group who present summaries of changes to a

senior executive steering group of federal interagency workgroup members

(DoD and the Services, DOL, VA, DoED, SBA) for approval. The GOTR

would also facilitate and lead the coordination of pilots for any new curricula

to collect feedback from participants. Consistent with DoD TAP policies,

“new curricula” is defined as any curriculum modifications that change more

than 20% of the existing curriculum.

Facilitate course participant or instructor materials fulfillment globally and

collaborate with the Cooperative Agreement Partner to ensure the successful

accomplishment of the project.

Communicate SBA or OVBD Program Office strategic objectives associated

with agency entrepreneurial development practices or pedagogical policies that

impact B2B curricula.

Share other data, best practices, or feedback collected during the period of

performance that could assist the awardee(s) in meeting their project objectives

and milestones related to curriculum development and continuous

improvement

b. Overseas Course Instruction (for delivery of the two-day B2B Introduction to

Entrepreneurship curricula on military installations OCONUS):


Provide installation level forecast data on the populations of transitioning

service members that are eligible to participate.

Provide historical program data on participation by installation which includes

participation rates, course frequency, average class size and follow-on training

conversions.

Coordinate with the Transition Service Managers on OCONUS installations

and regional and national level managers for each military service to determine



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demand for B2B on a quarterly and annual basis and provide inputs to the

awardee(s) for the purpose of maintaining a master delivery schedule.

Coordinate with Transition Service Managers to facilitate base access for

instructors or their appropriate designation under Status of Forces Agreements

and comply with country- and installation-specific procedures for

noncombatant evacuation operations (NEO).

Discuss with all parties the appropriate management levels to use in resolving

emergent issues related to instructor or course quality, scheduling, logistics, or

other matters.

c. B2B Program Evaluation:


Provide OVBD research framework to grantee(s) and discuss how project(s)

align to OVBD Program Office strategic objectives

Provide Program Data Inventory and related data collected (e.g. number of

course participants, location of course offerings, participant demographic data,

participant outcomes data, etc.) to grantee(s)

Facilitate data collection from TAP partners and stakeholders, including SBA

district office personnel, SBA Resource Partners, DoD, DOL, VA, etc. to

support grantee project objectives

d. Other Program Management Functions:

In addition to the aforementioned responsibilities, the SBA GOTR expects to:

Provide strategic direction and periodic updates on any areas within the

administrative purview of the OVBD Program Office and relevant to the

successful performance of the awardee(s) (e.g. funding availability, governance

policies and anticipated changes, feedback from congressional stakeholders,

etc.)

Facilitate communications with the DOD TAP on revisions to the B2B

curricula content for the DOD Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) training resource

Conduct marketing and outreach to program partners and influencers to sustain

support for the program and increase awareness among target audiences to

drive demand.

Provide guidance to awardee(s) on issues related to the administration and

management of the cooperative agreement in accordance with applicable laws,

regulations, and agency policies. Facilitate relationships with other relevant

SBA offices, primarily the Office of Grants Management (OGM).

1.8 Changes or Cancellation

SBA reserves the right to amend or cancel this PA, in whole or in part, at the Agency’s

discretion. Should SBA make material changes to this PA, the Agency will extend the



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Closing Date as necessary to afford Applicants sufficient opportunity to address such

changes.

2.0 Section II – Award Information

2.1 Estimated Funding

A maximum of $2.5 million in funding is available for Fiscal Year 2017. There is no

minimum award amount.

2.2 Expected Number of Awards

SBA anticipates awarding between one (1) and four (4) cooperative agreements from this

PA, subject to the availability of funds, the quality of proposals received, and other

applicable considerations.

SBA reserves the right to reject all applications and make no awards as a result of this PA

or make fewer awards than expected. In addition, SBA reserves the right to make

additional awards under this PA, consistent with Agency policy, if additional funding

becomes available after the original selection(s).

2.3 Period of Performance/Budget Periods

The Award will be made for a five-year period of performance, consisting of a base period

of 12 months from the date of award and four (4) option periods of 12 months each.

Exercise of the option periods will be solely at SBA’s discretion and is subject to

continuing program authority, availability of funds, and a Recipient’s continued

satisfactory performance and compliance with all the terms and conditions of the award.

Each base and option period will constitute a separate and distinct 12-month Budget

Period.

2.4 Funding Information

Funds provided under B2B must be used solely for the purposes stipulated in this PA and

the Notice of Award and may not be commingled with any other monies. All costs

proposed in an Applicant’s budget must meet the tests of allowability, allocability, and

reasonableness set forth in the applicable Office of Management and Budget (OMB) cost

principles. No more than 20 percent of award funds may be expended on contractor and

/or consultant costs. Indirect costs will be based on the Applicant’s cognizant Agency or

the indirect cost rate agreement negotiated with SBA. SBA will not reimburse Applicants

for their proposal preparation costs, but Applicants may request preaward costs. Preaward

costs must directly relate to the conduct of the project and meet the tests of allowability,

allocability, and reasonableness.

2.5 Funding Instrument

The funding instrument will be a Cooperative Agreement.

2.6 Matching Requirement



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None.

3.0 Section III – Eligibility Information

3.1 General

Eligible organizations may submit no more than one (1) proposal that responds to one or

more operational area outlined in this PA. In other words, an applicant may apply for

multiple areas of the PA (including all areas), or may select specific operational areas.

Multiple proposals from the same applicant will be rejected without being reviewed.

Please note SBA considers Operational Objective 3 (Integration, Collaboration, and

Partnership) inherent to all identified requirements and is non-severable. A successful

technical proposal will include communication and collaboration with SBA and its

partners as central to its project approach in order to achieve the stated project objectives.

3.2 Eligible Applicants

In order to be eligible for this funding opportunity an applicant must:

Be a non-profit organization, a state, local, or tribal government agency, an institution

of higher learning, a for-profit organization, or collaboration between such entities.

Demonstrate a history of providing quality entrepreneurship and/or business

management training that results in new business starts, business expansions or

diversifications, as well as jobs created and/or retained.

Demonstrate a clear understanding of the issues relating to transitioning service

members or veterans.

3.3 Ineligible Applicants

The following applicants will automatically be considered ineligible and their

applications will be rejected without being evaluated.

Any organization that owes an outstanding and unresolved financial obligation to the

federal government;

Any organization that is currently suspended, debarred, or otherwise prohibited from

receiving awards of contracts or grants from the federal government;

Any organization with an outstanding and unresolved material deficiency reports

under the requirements of the Single Audit Act or OMB Circular A-133 within the

past three years;

Any organization that has had a grant or cooperative agreement involuntarily

terminated or non-renewed by OVBD for cause within the past two years;

Any organization that has filed for bankruptcy within the past five years;

Any SBA award recipient already funded by cooperative agreement to conduct a

specific program for transitioning service members or military spouses (as outlined in

their budget);

Any organization that proposes to serve as a pass-through and permit another

organization to manage the day-to-day operations of the project; and



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Any current SBA Resource Partner (Small Business Development Center, Women’s

Business Center, SCORE, or Veterans Business Outreach Center). However, host

organizations of current SBA Resource Partners are eligible to apply.

4.0 Section IV – Application and Submission of Information Eligible organizations may submit no more than one (1) proposal that responds to one or

more operational objectives outlined in this PA. In other words, an applicant may apply

for multiple areas of the PA (including all areas), or may select specific operational areas

while omitting others. However, all applications must address Operational Objective 3

(Integration, Collaboration, and Partnership) in order to be deemed complete and eligible

for funding by SBA. A successful technical proposal will include communication and

collaboration with SBA and its partners as central to its project approach in order to

achieve the stated project objectives.

All applications:

Must clearly articulate a plan to produce results that have implications and/or

benefits on a national level (in other words, this PA is not designed to fund

small-scale local projects).

Must align with SBA strategic objectives as described in Section 6.0, below.

Must address one or more of the following program operational objectives:

o Providing a network of instructors to teach the two-day “Introduction to

Entrepreneurship” (Intro) classroom course at overseas military

installations;

o Providing a network of instructors to teach a follow-on high touch,

instructor-led, cohort-structured online course or comparable

alternative3;

o Managing a SBA-owned course curriculum which involves continuous

improvement and compatibility with the DOD TAP governance’s

curricula management process and timelines.

o Developing and executing a program evaluation plan.

For organizations responding to the OCONUS 2-day instruction operational objective of

this PA, the Grantee is expected to prepare participant attendance reports for OCONUS

courses and provide aggregate data to SBA. The Grantee must ensure course participants

are provided the opportunity to complete and submit a course evaluation form. The

Grantee is expected to provide a copy of the completed evaluation form to the OVBD

Program Office and to the respective program manager of the military services. The

Grantee is expected to provide a post-course report to SBA and to the respective program

manager of the military services. The course report must include a summary of courses

3 Please refer to “Background” section of this PA for additional information on the training model for the overall B2B

Program.



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delivered in the respective country delivered the previous month/quarter, and must include

the dates the courses were held, course location, and instructor name.

As applicable, applicants must address how their organization would design and deliver

follow-on training (in other words, any post-two day B2B Intro training) or follow-on

support (e.g. mentoring, business counseling, apprenticeships, joint work-study programs

combining education with work experience, etc.) that facilitate the successful transition of

service members and spouses and the development of veteran entrepreneurs and the

formation of new veteran-owned business or self-employment ventures. Please outline

those materials your organization believes are critical to delivery of the proposed follow-

on training. Please note SBA encourages the use of digitally or electronically formatted

training materials where practicable. Please reference Section 1.7 SBA Involvement and

Oversight for additional information related to participant training materials.

SBA is interested in applicants’ philosophical and pedagogical approach to providing

entrepreneurship education and assistance. Successful proposals must discuss the

following areas:

Effectiveness of their proposed delivery in providing entrepreneurship education

and assistance to veterans;

Your organization’s proposed measures of success for entrepreneurship education

and assistance;

Your organization’s approach or experience at standardizing or customizing

curriculum and instruction;

Your organization’s experience in assisting transitioning service members and

veterans.

Applications must be for projects that achieve outputs and outcomes on a national scale

including but not limited to:

Number of participants in B2B Foundations course

Number of hours of instruction

Number of touch points with instructor(s)

Number of B2B graduates connecting with local SBA resources (capital, contracts,

etc.)

Measure of change in participant likelihood of/motivation for starting a venture

(change in Entrepreneurial Intention)

Measure of change in participant confidence related to starting a venture

Number of veterans starting a business

Number of veterans sustaining a business

Measure of B2B program’s contribution to veterans experiencing a successful

transition (“not starting a business is OK”)

Measure of participants’ overall satisfaction with the B2B program.



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The activities and outputs listed4above are examples only and are not intended to limit the

submission of creative and innovative approaches for achieving short-, intermediate, or

long-term outcomes.

As applicable, proposals must address ways an organization will approach continuous

improvement and innovation with a focus on curriculum content and delivery. Examples

include using a specific framework or process for the innovation, continuous improvement

or quality assurance of entrepreneurial development curricula or identifying how an

organization sources its intellectual capital, instructors, and curricula.

Additionally, applicants must include web accessibility and functionality as part of their

technical proposal. For example, event calendars and course or event registration and

notification capabilities are critical aspects of delivering the global B2B program.

Websites must be used as promotional and tactical tools where grantees can distribute

B2B program information to individuals and outside organizations. The SBA GOTR

provides approval of website content related to the B2B program. SBA aims to serve as

the hub or clearinghouse of B2B program information so applicants’ website(s) must be

linkable to the www.bootstobusiness.gov domain. Consistent with the cooperative

agreement’s negotiated terms and conditions, the awardee(s) shall provide client level data

elements to SBA.

OVBD program administration requires the integration of service delivery where

practicable. Please note SBA considers Operational Objective 3 (Integration,

Collaboration, and Partnership) inherent to all identified requirements and is non-

severable. A successful technical proposal will include communication and collaboration

with SBA and its partners as central to its project approach in order to achieve the stated

project objectives. Integration and partnership is a stated performance goal for the 20

existing VBOCs funded by SBA funds that have a statutory mandate to provide transition

assistance. Future B2B awardees must work closely with VBOCs and other SBA resource

partners to leverage resources. Applicants will be required to demonstrate their capability

to establish partnerships with value added organizations such as veteran service

organizations, employment services, and other community-based economic development

initiatives, agencies, or organizations.

Proposals must address how your organization approaches partnership, both internally and

externally, and provide your observations of the marketplace for business assistance

services available to veterans – either exclusively or as part of general or other targeted

populations. SBA is interested in any existing customer relationship management (CRM)

processes or systems your organization utilizes to support your operations, and how your

organization conducts marketing and outreach to generate awareness and participation in

4 The OVBD Program Office views some of these indicators as longer term outcomes and most likely beyond the scope of a project

period of performance. However, this information is provided as notional examples of long-term outcomes the B2B Program is interested in potential cooperative agreement partners making progress towards.



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its programs, training courses, or lines of business. Additional anticipated proposal

language must include:

What operational and database infrastructure could you leverage to ingrate services

between multiple providers?

Does your organization have direct or indirect experience with federally funded

assistance agreements including grants and cooperative agreements?

Does your organization have any direct or indirect experience contracting with

government entities?

Applicants must identify project objectives and goals that are aligned with the B2B

program goals and operational areas. As discussed further in Sections C - E, proposed

projects must quantify entrepreneurial development or economic outputs for identified

activities and achieve measurable outcomes that demonstrate progress towards achieving

project objectives and goals within these operational objectives or areas.

For organizations responding to the Program Evaluation operational objective of this PA,

technical proposals must address how an organization proposes to assess the impact of an

entrepreneurship education and assistance program with a particular focus on the needs of

transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses. SBA is interested in

organizations’ perspectives and approaches to identifying the most meaningful yet

obtainable measures of effectiveness and efficiencies for a national entrepreneurship

education and training program, as well as the systems and methodologies that would or

could be utilized for the evaluation efforts. SBA strives to define and capture

entrepreneurial development activities and their impact on aspiring and existing business

owners, veterans’ actions related to their livelihood, whether veterans decide to launch a

business and their company’s trajectory or lifespan, the incubation period in making these

decisions, and the associated impacts of all this activity on the overall U.S. economy.

4.1 Application Information

Applications must consist of the following elements: (i) a cover letter; (ii) a technical

proposal; (iii) budget information and cost proposal; (iv) certifications, forms and

assurances; and (v) attachments and exhibits.

4.1.1 Cover Letter

The first page of each application must be a cover letter which contains the

following information:

Statement that the application is in response to the Program Announcement

No. B2B-2017-01;

Applicant’s name and address;

Applicant’s website address;

Name, telephone number, fax number, and email address for the applicant’s

designated point of contact;

Dollar amount of assistance being requested; and

Narrative Proposal (as described below)



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Project Narrative — must not exceed 20 pages (using 8.5 inch x 11 inch paper)

The document must be in a readable format or in PDF for Windows and

consolidated into a single file and be prepared as stated below.

The narrative proposal cannot exceed a maximum of 20 single-spaced typewritten

letter sized pages, and must use no less than a font of size 12 and 1 inch margins

on all sides; excess pages will not be reviewed. The narrative proposal is

comprised of three sections: the summary information, the work plan and the

budget narrative.

Summary Information Page (recommended not to exceed 1 page):

1. Project Title.

2. Applicant Information. Include applicant (organization) name, address,

contact person, phone number, fax and e-mail address and DUNS number.

3. Type of Eligible Organization as stated in 3.2 (e.g. non-profit, State

agency, institution of higher learning, etc.).

4. Funding Requested. Specify the total amount you are requesting from

SBA for the entire project period as well as the total for each year of the

project.

5. Total Project Cost. Specify total cost of the project. Identify funding from

other sources, including cost share or in-kind resources.

6. Project period. Provide beginning and ending dates. (Projects are

anticipated to begin April 1, 2017 and end on March 31, 2018.)

Work Plan

The work plan must explicitly describe how the proposed project meets the

guidelines established in Sections 1 - 3 (including the threshold eligibility criteria

in Section 3) of this PA. The work plan must address each of the evaluation

criteria set forth in Section 5. The work plan must conform to the following

outline:

a. Detailed Project Summary and Approach

Description of specific actions and methods to be undertaken and the

responsible institutions, including estimated time line for each task.

Description of the associated work products and activities to be developed.

Explanation of project benefits to the public.

Description of how the project aligns with SBA’s strategic objective and

B2B Program Operational Objectives.

Description of how the project uses effective/proven approaches.

Identification of the potential audiences served.

Description of the roles of the applicant and any partners.

Description of the practicality, feasibility, and replicability of the project,

such as to yield large national scale impacts.



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Description of the applicant’s approach, procedures, and controls for

ensuring that awarded grant funds will be expended in a timely and

efficient manner.

b. Evaluation Plan for Achieving Economic Results — Outcomes, Outputs

and Performance Measures

Describe how the results of the project will be evaluated. Identify the

expected project outputs and how progress towards achieving the expected

outputs will be tracked and measured.

Identify the expected quantitative and qualitative outcomes of the project

(see Section 1), including what performance measures will be used to

track progress towards achieving the expected outcomes.

c. Past Performance

Submit a list of federally funded assistance agreements (assistance

agreements include Federal grants and cooperative agreements but not

Federal contracts) similar in size, scope, and relevance to the proposed

project that your organization performed within the last three years (no

more than five agreements, and preferably SBA agreements) and describe

(i) whether, and how, you were able to successfully complete and manage

those agreements and (ii) your history of meeting the reporting

requirements under those agreements including whether your organization

adequately and timely reported on progress towards achieving the

expected outputs and outcomes of those agreements (and if not, explain

why not) and whether you submitted acceptable final technical reports

under the agreements.

In evaluating applicants under these factors in Section 5, SBA will

consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider

relevant information from other sources, including information from SBA

files and from current/prior grantors (e.g., to verify and/or supplement the

information provided by the applicant). If you do not have any relevant or

available past performance or reporting information, please indicate this in

the proposal and you will receive a neutral score for these factors.

d. Organization and Staff Experience and Qualifications

Description of the applicant’s organization and experience as it relates to

the proposed project.

Description of staff expertise/qualifications, staff knowledge, and

resources or the ability to obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of

the proposed project.

4.1.2 Technical Proposal (not to exceed 20 pages)

The technical proposal serves as the narrative blueprint for the Applicant’s planned project

and must include the following information:



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Detailed description of the applicant’s past experience and present capacity

to provide entrepreneurship/business management assistance to veterans;

Description of the methods that will be used to market the program to

potential beneficiaries with an interest in starting, managing, or growing a

successful small business;

For the B2B follow-on training, a copy of the proposed curriculum and (if

applicable) program itinerary/agenda or an evaluation (or suggested

changes) to the existing B2B curricula;

Outcomes data of the program since inception such as number of business

starts, jobs created or retained, contracts won, capital acquired, etc.

General demographic data of past program participants (e.g. age, gender,

race, military Service affiliation, rank at time of separation/retirement)

The number of beneficiaries served in each 12-month period since program

inception and projected number of beneficiaries that will be trained in a

future 12-month period if this funding opportunity is granted.

Identification of project director and key management personnel and staff;

including resumes (position descriptions for unfilled positions). Resumes

must include experience relevant to this project and may not be more than

two pages in length. Copies of resumes must be included as attachments in

accordance with Section 4.1.5 below and do not count toward the 20-page

limit;

Identification of contractors and consultants and the manner in which they

were selected (i.e., competitively or non-competitively). NOTE: No more

than 20% of award funds may be expended on contractor and/or consultant

costs. Copies of contracts and consulting agreements (either signed or

samples as applicable) must be included as attachments in accordance with

Section 4.1.5 below and do not count toward the 20-page limit;

An organizational chart;

A timetable of milestones for the 12-month Budget Period; and

identification of any additional funds or in-kind resources that will be

expended in furtherance of the project.

4.1.3 Budget Information and Cost Proposal

Budget information must be provided through the completion or submission of the

following:

Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance;

SF-424A Budget Information (Non-Construction Programs);

Budget Detail Worksheet (Attachments A-9 through A-12 to the SF-424A).

Budget narrative providing a brief, detailed explanation of the components

of each cost element listed in the SF-424A;

Copy of Applicant’s Cost Policy Statement; and

Copy of the Applicant’s current, government-wide indirect cost rate

agreement (if the Applicant’s budget includes indirect costs). If the



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Applicant does not have an agreement, it must propose an indirect cost rate

in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable cost principles

circular.

In its Cost Proposal Narrative, the applicant will outline plans on how the funding will be

used to enhance the capacity building aspects of the organizations/institutions in

increasing the number of beneficiaries in the program. The applicant will outline the

media that will be used to reach the target markets, the costs associated with media use,

cost of travel to attend local, regional, and national meetings related to B2B, and the

number of staff responsible for marketing and administrative activities associated with

program capacity building, including their salaries and benefits costs.

With its quarterly budget submission, the applicant must outline on the Budget Detail

Worksheet (Attachments A9-A12) how funding will be spent by including a brief

narrative on the use of funds for each of the appropriate categories outlined on the

Worksheet or as a separate written narrative, in addition to completion and inclusion of

these forms: the SF 425, SF 270, SF-PPR, which shall include a summary report on

recruitment, marketing, and promotional activities to potential program candidates.

Each fourth quarter reporting period, depending on the availability of Option Year

Funding, a final narrative report on program capacity building activities will be included

in the request for reimbursement along with all the appropriate forms and signatures.

Address in their proposals one or more of the stated veteran

entrepreneurship development operational areas (i.e. overseas instruction,

online instruction delivery or comparable alternative innovative

entrepreneurial development support, curricula improvement and

management, program evaluation). However, applicants cannot submit

multiple applications addressing the same operational area.

Must clearly articulate a plan to produce results that have implications

and/or benefits on a national level (in other words, this PA is not designed

to fund small-scale local projects).

Must align with SBA strategic goals, objectives, outputs and outcomes as

described in Section 1.5.a.

4.1.4 Certifications, Forms and Assurances

Each applicant must complete and submit the following forms:

SBA Form 1623, Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other

Responsibility Matters;

SF-LLL, Disclosure for Lobbying Activities;

Letter from the applicant’s Auditor, CPA, Treasurer, Comptroller, CFO or

similarly qualified individual certifying that the organization’s financial

management system currently meets requirements of 2 C.F.R. Part 200.302

Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with

institutions of higher learning, Hospitals, and Other Non Profit Organizations.



25 | P a g e

[NOTE: This requirement does not apply to awards made directly to state,

local, or tribal governments].

4.1.5 Attachments and Exhibits

Each Applicant must attach copies of the following to its proposal:

Resumes, position descriptions, contracts, consulting agreements, letters of

support, along with annotations of pledges of additional funding or in-kind

resources (that are not required as a match), leases, conflict of interest

policy, and cost policy statement;

Most recent A-133 audit report. If the Applicant is not subject to the

requirements of the Single Audit Act, it must instead submit a copy of its

most recent audited financial statement by an independent CPA; and

Any other documentation the Applicant believes supports its proposal.

4.2 Submission Instructions

All proposals (narratives and forms) must be submitted electronically via the government-

wide financial assistance portal www.grants.gov . NO OTHER FORMS OF

SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. All required forms are provided in the

grants.gov application package for this funding opportunity. Specific instructions for

obtaining, completing, and submitting an application via grants.gov, including animated

tutorials, may be found at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html.

In order to submit an application via grants.gov, an organization is first required to have a

DUNS number, be registered with the SAM.gov, and have a grants.gov username and

password. Additionally, Applicants should not wait until the closing date to begin the

submission process in order to avoid unexpected delays that could result in the rejection of

an application.

Information about the grants.gov registration process can be found at

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html. Applicants

must register as organizations, not as individuals. Please note that organizations already

registered with grants.gov do not need to register again. However, all registered

organizations must keep their resignations up-to-date. As part of the grants.gov

registration process, an Applicant must designate one or more Authorized Organizational

Representatives (AORs). AORs are the only individuals who may submit applications to

grants.gov on behalf of an organization. If an application is submitted by anyone other

than a designated AOR, it will be rejected by grants.gov and cannot be considered for

funding.

Once an application is submitted, it undergoes a validation process through which it will

be accepted or rejected by the grants.gov system. The validation process may take 24 to 48

hours to complete. Applicants should save and print written proof of an electronic

submission made at grants.gov. Applicants can expect to receive multiple emails regarding

the status of their submission. The first email will confirm receipt of the application. The


http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html



26 | P a g e

second email will indicate that the application has either been successfully validated by

the system and assigned an SBA tracking number, or it has been rejected due to errors. An

Applicant will receive a third email once SBA has downloaded its applications from

grants.gov for review in accordance with Section 5.3 below.

If grants.gov notifies an Applicant via email that its application contains an error, the

Applicant must correct the noted error(s) before the system will accept and validate the

application. Applicants that choose to submit on or close to the closing date are advised

they may not receive email notification of an error with their application until after the

submission deadline, and thus will not have an opportunity to correct and submit their

applications. APPLICATIONS THAT ARE REJECTED BY GRANTS.GOV WILL

NOT BE FORWARDED TO SBA AND CANNOT BE CONSIDERED FOR

FUNDING. It is the Applicant’s responsibility to verify that its submission was received

and validated successfully at grants.gov. To check the status of your application and see

the date and time it was received, log on to grants.gov and click on the “Track My

Application” link from the left-hand menu.

If you experience a technical difficulty with grants.gov (i.e., system problems or glitches

with the operation of grants.gov website itself) that you believe threatens your ability to

submit your application, please (i) print any error message received; and (ii) call the

grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726 for immediate assistance. Ensure that you

obtain a case number regarding your communications with grants.gov. NOTE: Problems

with an Applicant’s own computer system or equipment is not considered technical

difficulties with grants.gov. Similarly, an Applicant’s failure to (i) obtain a DUNS number

or complete the SAM.gov registration process; (ii) ensure that an AOR submits the

application; or (iii) take note of and act upon an email from grants.gov rejecting its

application due to errors, are not considered technical difficulties. A grants.gov technical

difficulty is an issue occurring in conjunction with the operation of grants.gov itself, such

as the temporary loss of service by grants.gov due to an unexpected volume of traffic or

failure of information technology systems, both of which are rare occurrences.

Applicants may use the following link to obtain assistance in navigating grants.gov and

access a list of useful resources:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html. If you have a

question that is not addressed under the “Applicant FAQs”, try consulting the “Applicant

User Guide” or contacting the grants.gov Contact Center.

4.3 Required Proposal Submission Dates

Each Applicant is required to submit its proposal electronically via www.grants.gov

no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 17, 2017. Please note that

grants.gov technical support is available during normal business hours only so last minute

application submissions are discouraged. Because of the re-conditions for submitting

applications via grants.gov and the potential for encountering technical difficulties in

using that site, Applicants are strongly encouraged to log on to the grants.gov and review

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html




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the submission instructions early. DO NOT WAIT UNTO THE CLOSING DATE TO

BEGIN THE SUBMISSION PROCESS. Applicants bear sole responsibility for

ensuring their proposals are submitted and received before the closing date.

SBA will consider the date and time stamp on the validation generated by grants.gov as

the official submission time. A proposal that is not received by grants.gov before the

closing date of this PA will be rejected without being evaluated, unless the Applicant can

clearly demonstrate through documentation obtained from grants.gov that it attempted to

submit its proposal in a timely manner but was unable to do so solely because of

grants.gov systems issues. Additionally, SBA will not accept any changes, additions,

revisions, or deletions to applications made after the closing date.

Applicants should save and print written proof of an electronic submission made at

grants.gov. If problems occur while using grants.gov, the applicant is advised to (i) print

any error message received; and (ii) contact grants.gov for immediate assistance.

Applicants may obtain advice and assistance with grants.gov submission process by

visiting http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html or calling 1-800-518-4726.

5.0 Section V – Application Review Information

5.1 General

Applications will be rejected without being evaluated if they are submitted by ineligible

organizations or they are illegible or materially incomplete due to an Applicant’s failure to

include required forms and/or provide the required level of detail.

5.2 Evaluation Criteria

All timely, materially complete applications received from eligible organizations will be

evaluated in accordance with the criteria listed below.

5.2.1 Project Summary and Approach (Weight 40%)

Applicants will be evaluated on their demonstrated ability to expand performance capacity

in delivering their entrepreneurship development support to potential beneficiaries

throughout the world.

Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on the following factors:

a. (40%) the extent to which the narrative proposal includes a well-conceived and

high quality strategy and approach for addressing all of the requirements in

Section 1.4 (Scope of Work) and 1.5 (SBA Strategic Plan Linkage and

Outcomes/Outputs). Applicants are expected to provide supplemental

information to describe how their technical proposal(s) will achieve the stated

goals. Examples of supplemental information shall include:

Program training or learning objectives (as applicable)

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html



28 | P a g e

Copy of curricula (as applicable)

Description of training locations and/or delivery channels (as applicable)

b. (40%) the quality of the applicant’s goals and their potential for achieving

national scale impacts and/or benefits

c. (20%) the extent and quality to which the narrative proposal sets forth a

reasonable time schedule and staffing plan for the execution of the project tasks

to achieve the stated goals by the project end. Applicants must demonstrate

they will devote adequate numbers of personnel having sufficient experience to

the project, establish clear and direct lines of responsibility and authority for

managing and overseeing the project, and show that they will have sufficient

facilities and other physical resources at their disposals to accomplish the

proposed project. In particular, an Applicant must:

Identify all key management staff and contractors/consultants, describe their

roles in conducting and overseeing the project, stipulate the amount of time

they will devote to the project, and provide copies of resumes/position

descriptions and an organizational chart;

Identify all facilities and other physical resources that will be utilized in

furtherance of capacity building and provide copies of relevant deeds,

leases, free space agreements, rental contracts, memoranda of

understanding, etc.;

Provide copies of all contracts and consulting agreements and identify the

employees or officials of the Applicants’ organizations who will be

responsible for overseeing and administering those agreements;

Describe its financial management structure and internal controls and

identify all staff members who will be responsible for financial

recordkeeping, reporting, the receipt and expenditure of award funds, and

addressing audit findings;

Provide a copy of its conflict of interest policy addressing, at a minimum,

procedures for ensuring its employees, consultants and contractors do not

assist veterans in which they, their principals, or its employees, consultants

and contractors do not use their fiduciary duties and/or ensure its

employees, consultants and contractors do not use their role in the project as

a means for marketing their outside services to project clients.

5.2.2 Entrepreneurial Development or Economic Results – Outputs, Outcomes and

Measures (Weight 15%)

Under this criterion, the Agency will evaluate the effectiveness of the applicant’s plan for

tracking and measuring its progress toward achieving the expected project outputs and

outcomes, including those identified in Section 1 of this PA. In addition, the Agency will

evaluate the performance measures proposed by the applicant and how they will be used

to help track and measure the Applicants progress towards achieving the expected outputs

and outcomes.



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5.2.3 Programmatic Capability (Weight 20%)

Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on their ability to successfully

complete and manage the proposed project taking into account their:

a. Organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the

objectives of the proposed project;

b. Staff expertise and qualifications, staff knowledge, and resources or the ability to

obtain them, to successfully achieve the goals of the proposed project;

c. Past performance in successfully completing and managing the assistance

agreements identified in the narrative proposal as described in Section IV.C of the

PA. A detailed description of the applicant’s past experience and present capacity

to provide entrepreneurship/business management assistance to transitioning

service members, veterans, and military spouses;

d. History of meeting the reporting requirements under the assistance agreements

identified in the narrative proposal as described in Section 4.c of the PA including

whether the applicant submitted acceptable final technical reports under those

agreements and the extent to which the applicant adequately and timely reported

on their progress towards achieving the expected outputs and outcomes under

those agreements and if such progress was not being made whether the applicant

adequately reported why not.

NOTE: In evaluating applicants under items iii and iv of this criterion, the Agency will

consider the information provided by the applicant and may also consider relevant

information from other sources including agency files and prior/current grantors (e.g., to

verify and/or supplement the information supplied by the applicant). If you do not have

any relevant or available past performance or reporting information, please indicate this in

the proposal and you will receive a neutral score for these sub-factors. If you do not

provide any response for these items, you may receive a score of 0 for these factors.

5.2.4 Leveraging of Resources (Weight 15%)

Under this criterion, applicants will be evaluated based on the extent they demonstrate (i)

how they will coordinate the use of SBA funding with other Federal and/or non-Federal

sources of funds/resources to leverage additional resources beyond the grant funds

awarded to carry out the proposed project(s) and/or (ii) that SBA funding will complement

activities relevant to the proposed project(s) carried out by the applicant with other sources

of funds or resources. Applicants will also be evaluated based on the type and amount of

leveraging proposed, how the applicant will obtain the leveraged resources, the likelihood

the leveraging will materialize during grant performance, the strength of the leveraging

commitment, and the role the leveraged resources will play to support the proposed

project activities. Applicants will be evaluated on the breadth of their plans for

coordinating their proposed activities and working to expand the scope and reach of their

project in collaboration with entities such as SBA district offices, other federal, state, local

and tribal government agencies, SBA resource partners, trade associations,



30 | P a g e

business/industry groups, and institutions of higher learning. Specifically, an applicant

must provide:

a. Copies of agreements with, or letters or emails of support from, the above-listed

types of organizations pledges;

b. While not required as a match, applicants must include detailed descriptions of any

of its own funds or in-kind resources the applicant will devote to the project and

copies of donation letters or checks from outside entities; while this is not a match

providing such financial information will demonstrate how the applicants will have

the resources to ensure there are zero or minimal costs to the program

beneficiaries;

c. Brief details of how applicant plans to work with SBA district offices and resource

partners network (VBOCs, SCORE, SBDCs and WBCs) to coordinate B2B

marketing and post-program business technical assistance referral.

d. Demonstrate the capability to establish partnerships with veteran service

organizations, employment services, and community-based organizations that

service the training needs of veterans; provide a list of strategic alliances

established to date, as an addendum.

5.2.5 Risk Management and Budget (Weight 10%)

Applicants will be evaluated using a risk-based approach pursuant to 2 C.F.R. 200.205(b)

based on the following criteria:

a. Financially stability – C.F.O. Certification referencing adequacy of internal

controls as applicable with standard accounting practices;

b. History of Performance – the applicant’s record in managing Federal awards, if it

is a prior recipient of Federal awards, including timeliness of compliance with

applicable report requirements, accuracy of reimbursement requests, conformance

to terms and conditions of previous Federal awards;

c. Reports and finding from annual audits and independent CPA financial reviews

performed;

d. The applicant’s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, and other

requirements imposed on non-Federal entities.

Under this criterion, the Agency will also evaluate the proposed project budget to

determine whether:

a. costs are reasonable to accomplish the proposed goals, objectives, and measurable

environmental outcomes; and

b. the proposed budget provides a detailed breakout of the approximate funding used

for each major activity.

An applicant’s budget and budget narrative must account for both federal funds and any

non-federal funds (e.g., any voluntary cost share/match if applicable). Applicants must



31 | P a g e

precisely describe in their budget narrative how they will account for any voluntary cost

share/match and what role SBA funding will play in the overall project.

5.3 Review and Selection Process

Applications will be rejected without being evaluated if they are submitted by ineligible

organizations, or they are illegible or materially incomplete due to an Applicant’s failure

to include required forms and/or provide the required level of detail. Applications that are

not rejected by grants.gov or SBA’s initial screening process will be evaluated by a team

of merit reviewers and evaluated on the basis of how well the applications meet the

criteria outlined within this PA. These reviewers may be SBA employees or employees of

other federal agencies. Applicants are therefore encouraged to design proposals that

address the criteria listed above in a clear and concise manner.

Merit reviewers will utilize an adjectival rating structure to evaluate eligible applications.

The merit reviewers shall measure each application against the PA, and shall evaluate

against the criteria of the PA. These criteria and their respective weighting of each

criterion are detailed in Section 5. The reviewers will determine whether the application,

in consideration of each category, and its respective weighting and then taken in its

entirety, must be rated as: 1) Highly Responsive; 2) Responsive; 3) Somewhat

Responsive; or 4) Not Responsive.

a. Highly Responsive: Applicant fully addresses all criteria aspects, convincingly

demonstrates that it will meet SBA's performance requirements, and demonstrates

no discernable weaknesses;

b. Responsive: Applicant fully addresses all criteria aspects, demonstrates a

likelihood of meeting SBA’s requirements, but may include minor weaknesses;

c. Somewhat Responsive: Applicant addresses most criteria aspects and demonstrates

the ability to meet SBA's performance requirements. However, the Application

contains significant weaknesses and/or a number of minor weaknesses. These

weaknesses may be addressed by recommending the award and including a

specific programmatic or administrative post-award special term(s) and

condition(s); or,

d. Not Responsive: Applicant does not sufficiently address the criteria and the

information presented indicates a strong likelihood of failure to meet SBA's

requirements.

After evaluating applications utilizing the aforementioned criteria and weighting, the

reviewers will submit to the OVBD Program Office their determinations as to whether the

applications reviewed were: 1) Highly Responsive; 2) Responsive; 3) Somewhat

Responsive; or 4) Not Responsive. The OVBD senior personnel will consider these

assessments, along with any other information in their possession, and after careful

consideration of all information will draft individual funding recommendations to either:

1) not fund the application; 2) fund the application but not at the level requested; or 3)

fund the application at the level requested.



32 | P a g e

5.4 Other Factors

Final funding decisions will be made by the Approving Official based on the rankings and

preliminary recommendation of the OVBD Program Office. In addition to the evaluation

of applications against the criteria described above in Section 5.a, the following factors

also may be considered by the Approving Official in making final funding decisions for

all cooperative agreements:

a. Balance between veteran entrepreneurial development program operational areas.

b. Diversity in nature of selected activities.

c. Balance of type of community targeted (e.g., rural, urban, low-income,

disadvantaged, underserved, disproportionately impacted populations, geographic

coverage, etc.).

Once final decisions have been made, a funding recommendation will be developed and

forwarded to the SBA Award Official.

6.0 Section VI – Award Administration Information

6.1 Award Notification

The Applicant selected for the award will receive written notification. Applicants not

selected for awards will be notified via email or letter and if time permits debriefs of

successful Applications will take place.

6.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

The successful Application will be required to comply with the requirement set forth in 2

C.F.R. Part 200 the Assurances of Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B); and the terms

and conditions set forth in their Notice of Award. In addition, SBA may from time-to-

time advise the Recipient of the award made under this PA of new legal requirements and

/or policy initiatives with which they must agree to comply. All applications must support:

SBA’s Strategic Goal 2: Serving as the Voice for Small Business, Strategic Objective 2.1

– Inclusive Entrepreneurship: Ensure inclusive entrepreneurship by expanding access and

opportunity to small businesses and entrepreneurs in communities where market gaps

remain.

SBA’s 2014 - 2018 Strategic Plan may be found at:

https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/aboutsbaarticle/SBA_FY_2014_-

2018_Strategic_Plan-1.pdf.

OMB Circular No. A-123 requires agencies to implement an Enterprise Risk Management

(ERM) capability coordinated with the strategic planning and annual strategic review

process established by GPRAMA and the internal control processes required by FMFIA

and Government Accountability Office (GAO)'s Green Book. This integrated governance



33 | P a g e

structure will improve mission delivery, reduce costs, and focus corrective actions towards

key risks. This is consistent with OMB Circular No. A-11 outlines agency responsibilities

for identifying and managing strategic and programmatic risk as part of agency strategic

planning, performance management, and regular performance reporting practices.

Together, these two Circulars constitute the ERM policy framework for the Federal

Government, with specific ERM activities integrated and operationalized by Federal

agencies.

6.3 Reporting

The Recipient is required to submit the reports identified below: SBA may withhold

payment if reports are not received or are deemed inadequate. Failure to report in a timely

manner will also be weighed against future applications for grant funding from the same

organization and the exercise of any option periods. The reports provided by Recipient

may be made public. In addition, SBA reserves the right to require the Recipient to post

these reports on their web sites.

6.3.1 Financial Reports

Recipient will be required to submit quarterly financial reports to SBA using SF-425,

Federal Performance Progress Reports, within 30 days of the completion of each of the

first three quarters and within 90 days of the completion of the fourth quarter for each

Budget Period.

6.3.2 Report Submission

Recipient will be required to submit quarterly performance reports to SBA using the SF-

PPR Performance Progress Report, within 30 days of the completion of each of the first

three quarters and within 90 days of the completion of the fourth quarter of each Budget

Period. Reports may be submitted electronically via e-mail and in hardcopy form via mail

or courier service to the GOTR.

7.0 Section VII – Agency Contacts

7.1 B2B Training Program Point of Contact

Questions concerning general information contained in this PA must be directed to the

GOTR, John Lira, at [email protected].

7.2 Financial/Grants Management Point of Contact

Questions concerning budgetary matters related to this PA must be directed to

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]




34 | P a g e

7.3 Grants.gov Technical Support

For technical support with filing an electronic application in response to this PA, contact

the Grants.gov help desk at 1-800-518-4726 or [email protected].

8.0 Section VIII – Other Information

8.1 Definitions

The following definitions apply to awards made under this PA.

8.1.1 Applicant – an eligible organization or institution of higher learning that applies

for funding under this PA.

8.1.2 Budget Period – the 12-month period during which expenditure obligations will be

incurred by the recipient for an award under this PA. For the purposes of this PA,

the initial budget period will be from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018. Each

option year, if exercised, will constitute a separate budget period.

8.1.3 Cooperative Agreement – A legal instrument reflecting a relationship between the

United States government and a Recipient when the principal purpose of the

relationship is to transfer a thing of value to the Recipient to carry out a public

purpose of support or stimulation and substantial involvement is expected between

the awarding agency and the Recipient when carrying out the activity

contemplated in the agreement.

8.1.4 Cost Policy Statement – A document describing all accounting policies of an

Applicant organization and narrating in detail its proposed cost allocation plan.

This plan must stipulate the procedures used to identify, measure, and allocate all

costs to each benefitting activity.

8.1.5 Counseling – Services provided one-on-one to an individual and/or business that

are delivered in person (fact-to-face), on the telephone, or electronically and which

are:

a. Substantive in nature and concern the formation, management, financing,

and/or operation of a small business enterprise; and

b. Specific to the needs of the business or individual; and

c. Require a signed SBA Form 641 or equivalent form that supports SBA’s

management information database.

8.1.6 Notice of Award – The legal document, signed by both SBA and a Recipient, that

memorializes the award of funding under a Cooperative Agreement and contains

the specific terms and conditions that apply to the award.




35 | P a g e

8.1.7 Outcome- The result, effect, or consequence that will occur from carrying out an

activity that is related to an entrepreneurial development program goal or

objective. Outcomes may be attitudinal, behavioral, condition or programmatic in

nature, but must be quantitative. They may not necessarily be achievable within an

assistance agreement funding period.

8.1.8 Output- An activity, effort, and/or associated work product related to an economic

goal and objective that will be produced or provided over a period of time or by a

specified date. Outputs may be quantitative or qualitative but must be measurable

during an assistance agreement funding period.

8.1.9 Project Period – The total period of performance for an award made under this

PA, including the base and all option-year Budget Periods.

8.1.10 Recipient – A qualified organization or Institution of Higher Learning that has

been awarded funding under the PA.

8.1.11 Technical Assistance – Counseling or training services provided to an individual

and/or business in knowledge, information, or experience on a business-related

subject. The training must last for a minimum of one hour and include two or

more individuals and/or businesses in attendance.

8.1.12 Training – A workshop, course, seminar, or similar activity or event which

delivers a structured program of knowledge, information or experience on a

business-related topic. The training must last for a minimum of one hour and

include two or more individuals and/or businesses.

8.1.13 Veteran – A term used to refer to all parties eligible for B2B benefits, which

encompasses transitioning service members, military spouses, veterans of all eras,

dependents, and permanent caregivers.

8.2 Government Furnished Items and Services

8.2.1 Materials: SBA will provide B2B Intro curriculum, trainer guide, participant guide,

etc., and train-the-trainer curriculum.

8.3 Appendices

8.3.1 List of Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs) throughout the U.S.

Veterans Business Outreach

Center (VBOC)

Geographic Coverage SBA District Office Coverage

Veterans Business Outreach Center

at Cochise College

Arizona Arizona


(VBOC) Region IX

Northern California & Nevada Sacramento, San Francisco,

Fresno, Nevada



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Southern California Veterans

Business Outreach Center

Southern California Los Angeles, Santa Ana, San

Diego


at Gulf Coast State College

Florida North Florida, South Florida


at Georgia Southern University

Georgia Georgia


of the Pacific

Hawaii, Guam & American

Samoa

Hawaii & Guam


at WBDC

Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin

VetBiz Central Michigan, Indiana, Ohio Michigan, Indiana, Cleveland,

Columbus

Veterans Business Resource Center Missouri, Kansas, Iowa,

Nebraska

Kansas City, St. Louis, Wichita,

Nebraska, Iowa


at Mississippi State University

Mississippi, Louisiana,

Alabama, Tennessee

Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama,

Tennessee

Region VIII Veterans Business

Outreach Center at Big Sky

Economic Development

Montana, Wyoming, Utah, North

Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado

Montana, Colorado, Wyoming,

North Dakota, South Dakota,

Utah


at Fayetteville State University

North Carolina, South Carolina,

Kentucky

North Carolina, Kentucky, South

Carolina

New Mexico Veterans Business

Outreach Center

New Mexico, Colorado New Mexico, Colorado

New England Veterans Business

Outreach Center

Rhode Island, Connecticut,

Massachusetts, Vermont, New

Hampshire, Maine

Connecticut, Rhode Island,

Massachusetts, Vermont, New

Hampshire, Maine


at University of Texas - Rio Grande

Valley

Southern Texas Harlingen, El Paso, San Antonio


at University of Texas at Arlington

Northern Texas, Oklahoma,

Arkansas

Dallas, Lubbock, Houston,

Oklahoma, Arkansas

Community Business Partnership Maryland, DC, Northern

Virginia, Puerto Rico & Virgin

Islands

Maryland, DC, Puerto Rico

Hampton Roads VBOC - Old

Dominion University

Southern Virginia, Delaware,

West Virginia, Pennsylvania

Virginia, West Virginia,

Delaware, Pennsylvania,

Pittsburgh


at Business Impact NW

Washington, Alaska, Idaho,

Oregon

Washington, Idaho, Oregon,

Alaska



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8.3.2 B2B Introduction to Entrepreneurship Course Learning Objectives

a. Understand the opportunities and challenges associated with business ownership as

a post-service career vocation.

b. Learn some initial steps and elements of starting a business.

c. Learn how to evaluate the feasibility of a business concept and practice evaluating

concepts using the “feasibility analysis tool”

d. Gain exposure to the SBA and other resources and programs available to provide

further technical assistance and access to capital

8.3.3 B2B Foundations to Entrepreneurship Course Learning Objectives

Curriculum Overview for Foundations of Entrepreneurship Eight-Week Online

Intensive Course

1. Module One - The Right Idea?

a. Understanding and looking for opportunity

b. Forming a great business concept

c. Business planning

d. Determining your goals

2. Module Two - Your Customers and Will They Buy?

a. Determining and understanding the customer

b. Market research and how to do it

c. Research resources

3. Module Three - Your Competitive Space

a. Looking at industries

b. Differentiation and finding your niche

c. Where to start geographically

4. Module Four - The Economics of Small Business

a. Developing your business model

b. What resources are needed to follow through on plan

c. Understanding costs, prices, volume & margins

5. Module Five - Legal Issues Impacting Veteran-Owned Businesses

a. Understanding and looking for opportunity

b. Forming a great business concept

c. Business planning

d. Determining your goals

6. Module Six - Assessing Feasibility

a. Experiential session focused on completing personalized feasibility plan

(program outcome)



38 | P a g e

7. Module Seven - Moving Forward – Business Planning

a. Introduction to comprehensive business planning

b. Leveraging feasibility toward a fundable plan

8. Module Eight - Resources to Support You

a. Overview of public and private sector resources positioned to support

veterans in the pursuit of business ownership



39 | P a g e

8.3.4 B2B Exit Survey

SBA Office of Veterans Business Development

B2B Entrepreneurship Survey for Service Members and Military Families

Use of information: This information collection (survey) is to be completed by

individuals who have participated in the B2B courses offered by the U. S. Small Business

Administration (SBA). You received this survey because at the time of course registration

you agreed to participate in this B2B related survey.

Disclosure of the information requested on this form is voluntary; participants may exit

the survey at any time or skip questions they prefer not to answer. This study is being

conducted to gather information from military service members and families about their

experiences in SBA’s B2B entrepreneurship program and about their entrepreneurship

motivations, barriers and goals. SBA is collecting this information to improve its program

offerings as well as to understand entrepreneurship experiences and outcomes. All

information provided is protected to the extent permitted by law, including the Privacy

Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552.

SBA maintains your personal information in the agency’s Privacy Act Systems of

Records, SBA 5-- "Business and Entrepreneurial Initiatives for Small Businesses." This

system of record notice (SORN) identifies why and to whom SBA will routinely disclose

the information that you provide.

Please note: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act you are not required to respond to any

collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control number. The

estimated time for completing this survey is 4 minutes per response, including gathering

and submitting the information. Comments on the estimated time, including suggestions

for reducing the time, must be sent to: U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street,

SW, Washington, DC 20416, and to: SBA Desk Officer, Office of Management and

Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10202, Washington, D.C., 20503.

Available Sources of Information: If you have concerns or complaints about your rights

as a participant, please contact the B2B team at [email protected].

AUTHORIZATION: Clicking on the “Agree” option below indicates that:

• You have read the above information.

• You voluntarily agree to participate.

• You are at least 18 years of age.

☐ Agree

☐ Do Not Agree –> EXIT SURVEY




40 | P a g e

Initial Collection: Outcome Assessment Post Course Survey

Instructions: Please answer the following questions. Some questions will require you to write your answers,

while others will require you to select your answers from a list of preset choices. Your feedback is

important for us to understand the impact of the Boots to Business program.

1. Demographic Information

Please answer the following questions about how you felt before and after attending Boots to Business:

2.

BEFORE Boots to Business AFTER Boots to Business

Not at

all

Not

Very Neither

Some

what Very

Not at

all

Not

Very Neither

Some

what

V

e

r

y

How informed were you

about starting a business and

entrepreneurship in general? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Did you have the skillsets

required to start a business? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

How motivated were you to ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Name: Click here to enter text.

Boots to Business date completed: Click here to enter a

date.

Boots to Business course location: Choose an item.

Service: Choose an item. Age Range: Choose an item.

Gender: Choose an item. Ethnicity: Choose an item.

Race (please select one or more):

☐American Indian ☐Alaska Native ☐Asian

☐Black or African American

☐Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

☐White ☐Not Stated

Please select the status that best describes you- If you

are a service member who is married, please select your

military status and Dual Military Spouse:

☐Dependent Spouse ☐Dual Military Spouse

☐Other Dependent ☐Service Disabled Veteran

☐Veteran ☐Transitioning/Retiring

Service Member

☐Service Member



41 | P a g e

start a business?

How likely were you to start

a business? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐


a business soon (within one

year)? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐


a business later (5-10

years)? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

How likely were you to

pursue higher education

first? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐


pursue employment first? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐


pursue additional technical

assistance first? ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

3. Which of the following best describes your interest in starting or owning a business since completing

Boots to Business:

☐I am significantly more interested in starting or owning a business.

☐I am more interested in starting or owning a business.

☐I am neither more nor less interested in starting or owning a business.

☐I am less interested in starting or owning a business.

☐I am significantly less interested in starting or owning a business.

4. Did the Boots to Business program increase your confidence in starting or owning a business?

☐Yes

☐No

5. In the time since you completed the Boots to Business program, have you launched a new

venture/business or continued to grow an existing business? (Logic: If ‘Yes’ skip to question 4 / If ‘No’

continue to question 3 then skip to question 16)

☐Yes ☐No

6. To what degree do you attribute the following factors to not yet launching a business or other self-

employment venture? If other reasons are applicable, please specify in the text box below.

Greatly Moderately Somewhat Not at all

Not enough time since completing

Boots to Business ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐



42 | P a g e

Timing ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Inability to obtain sufficient funding ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Family or personal concerns ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Lack of non-monetary resources e.g.

technical assistance or mentorship ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Decided to pursue other endeavors or

employment ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Business concept/plan was not feasible ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Other: Click here to enter text.

7. How soon after completing Boots to Business did you start this business? Please select one.

☐I had the business prior to completing the Boots to Business program

☐12 months or less

☐1 year

☐2 years

☐3 years

☐4 years

☐5 years

☐More than 5 years

8. Have you started multiple businesses since attending the Boots to Business program?

☐Yes ☐No

*If yes, please respond to the questions in this survey regarding your most recent venture.

9. Is the venture/business still in operation today? (Logic: If ‘No’ skip to question 16)

☐Yes ☐No

10. How long has the business/venture been in operation? Please select one.

☐12 months or less ☐4 years

☐1 year ☐5 years

☐2 years ☐More than 5 years

☐3 years

11. What type of business/venture do you own? Please select one or more.

☐ Franchised business ☐ Government Contracting ☐ Family owned business

☐ Internet based business ☐ Home based business ☐ Service based business

☐ Product based business ☐ Other: Click here to enter text.

Please enter the number of employees you have for the calendar years in the table below. Please do not

include yourself in your responses. If you are the only employee please input “0”. If you were not in

operation during this time please select N/A.

12.

Calendar

Year

Total Employees

(including Veteran and military

dependent employees)

Veteran

Employees

Military Dependent

Employees N/A

2015 ☐

2014 ☐



43 | P a g e

2013 ☐

Note: Military dependents are defined as the spouse(s), children, and possibly other familial relationship

categories of a sponsoring military member for purposes of pay as well as special benefits, privileges and

rights.

13. Did you receive financing in the last 12 months?

☐Yes ☐No

14. Estimate the total amount of financing your business obtained in the last 12 months. If you did not

obtain new financing, please check N/A.

☐SBA loans (7a, 504, Microloan, Community Advantage) $____,____,____.00 (Please enter in whole

dollars.)

☐Non-SBA Loans from a commercial bank $____,____,____.00 (Please enter in whole

dollars.)

☐Loans or equity investment from friends or family $____,____,____.00 (Please enter in whole

dollars.)

☐Equity raised from professional investors $____,____,____.00 (Please enter in whole

dollars.)

☐Crowd Funding $____,____,____.00 (Please enter in whole

dollars.)

☐Non-traditional lending (i.e. peer-to-peer) $____,____,____.00 (Please enter in whole

dollars.)

☐N/A, I did not obtain financing in the last 12 months

15. What was your primary reason for applying for financing in the last 12 months? Select one.

☐To start or acquire my business

☐To expand my business by establishing a new location

☐To provide working capital or support cash flow

☐For a capital investment

☐Other: Click here to enter text.

☐I did not apply for financing

16. Is your business officially designated in any of the following: Please select all that apply.

☐HUBZone Program

☐8(a) Business Development

☐Mentor-Protégé Program

☐Small Business Certification

☐Women-Owned Small Businesses

☐Veteran-Owned Businesses

☐Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses

☐Disadvantaged Businesses

☐Alaskan Owned Corporations

☐Native Hawaiian Owned Corporations

☐Natural Resources Assistance Program

☐Other, specify: ____________________

☐Not Applicable

17. In what industry does your business primarily operate? Please select one.



44 | P a g e

☐Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

☐Contracting

☐Finance / Accounting Services

☐Health Care & Social Assistance

☐Insurance (Insurance Agents, Brokers, & Service)

☐Logistics and warehousing

☐Manufacturing

☐Real Estate & Rental/Leasing

☐Retail (food, merchandise, automotive, furniture, etc.)

☐Technology /Internet and Data Services

☐Other (specify) Click here to enter text.

18. What is the legal entity of your business?

☐ Sole Proprietorship ☐ Limited Liability Partnership ☐ “S” Corporation

☐ General Partnership ☐ “C” Corporation ☐ Limited Liability Company

☐ Limited Partnership ☐ Other: Click here to enter text.

19. Have you used other SBA resources? (Logic: If no, skip to question 18)

☐Yes, prior to attending Boots to Business

☐Yes, after attending Boots to Business

☐Yes, both before and after attending Boots to Business

☐No, I have not used other SBA resources



45 | P a g e

20. Please select SBA resources you have used, please select all that apply:

☐Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)

☐Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

☐SCORE

☐Women’s Business Center (WBC)

☐Procurement and Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)

☐U.S. Export Assistance Center

☐Certified Development Company (CDC)

☐SBA Regional Office

☐SBA District Office

☐V-WISE

☐EBV

☐VIP

☐Boots to Business social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)

21. What resources outside of SBA have you used? Please select all that apply. If your resources are not

listed please specify in the text box below.

☐Subscription based services

☐DVD/Books

☐Mentor (non-SBA)

☐Higher education business related courses, certifications or degree program

Please specify: Click here to enter text.

☐Online resources (blogs, discussion forums, websites, social media)

Please specify: Click here to enter text.

☐Private Organization: Click here to enter text.

☐I did not use resources outside SBA

☐Other: Click here to enter text.

22. In addition to seeking self-employment, have you achieved/completed any of the following since

attending Boots to Business? Select all that apply.

☐Higher Education ☐Traditional Employment ☐Technical/Vocational Training ☐Not Applicable

23. Other than the information covered already, do you have any additional input regarding the Boots to

Business program? Click here to enter text.

24. If there has been a change to your contact information, please let us know in the fields below.

Phone: Click here to enter text. Email: Click here to enter text.

Documents

BOOTS TO BUSINESS (B2B): FROM SERVICE TO START-UP …...Jan 13, 2017 · The Boots to Business (B2B) Program is a component of the benefits and services authorized for separating